Control method and control equipment

ABSTRACT

In order to easily download a program obtained from the outside onto a connected device while a device on which a program is to be downloaded is being properly selected, when a second device connected to a first device is controlled by executing a first program inputted to the first device from the outside and a second program prepared beforehand in the first device, the most desirable device is selected as the second device by executing the second program and the first program is executed by using information on the selected device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a control method and a controlequipment suitable for use in receiving digital satellite broadcastingand downloading a received music program or the like onto a data storageequipment, for example.

BACKGROUND ART

Digital satellite broadcasting is being widely used increasingly. Ascompared with existing analog broadcasting, digital satellitebroadcasting is resistant to noise and fading and is able to transmit ahigh-quality signal. Digital satellite broadcasting can also increasefrequency utilization factor and can provide multiple channels. Forexample, in the digital satellite broadcasting, one satellite can secureseveral hundreds of channels. The digital satellite broadcastingprepares a large number of special channels such as a sports program, amovie, music and a news program, and these special channels arebroadcasting the programs of their own contents.

Of these special channels, a music program channel is one of the popularchannels of the digital satellite broadcasting and is broadcastingpromotion programs mainly introducing new songs and hit songs.

The conventional music channel is broadcasting the music promotionprograms introducing new songs and hit songs in the form of movingpictures and sounds. Listeners are often urged to purchase a CD withintroduced numbers and wish to listen to such numbers while viewing themusic promotion programs. Listeners often want to know information aboutartists in the desired numbers and information about an album of desirednumbers. While listeners are viewing music channel programs and wish toget the information about the artist of desired number and theinformation about the album of such desired numbers, it would have beenvery convenient for the listeners if they could get such information onthe spot. When the listeners found favorite numbers, it would have beenvery convenient if they could download audio data of such desirednumbers. The conventional music channel is, however, unable to meet suchlisteners requests because it is usually transmitting moving picturesand sounds concerning numbers to the listeners one-sidedly.

To solve the above problem, there is proposed a music contentsdistribution system capable of easily obtaining information concerningmusic broadcast on the music channel and which is also able to easilydownload number data to a data storage equipment (Japanese patentapplication No. 9-308488 (1997)). Some proposed music contentsdistribution system is able to download words data and jacket data aswell as the music data.

When a user sets up the music contents distribution system, the user whoreceives digital satellite broadcasting should connect a tuner forreceiving digital satellite broadcasting to a data storage equipment(recording equipment) using a recording medium such as a magnetoopticaldisk to download a music program received at the tuner onto therecording equipment. When the music program received at the tuner isdownloaded onto the recording equipment, the recording operation of therecording equipment connected to the tuner should be controlled based ondata such as a start time of the corresponding program transmittedtogether with the music program, for example, by the digital satellitebroadcasting, and hence the tuner and the recording equipment should beset in such a manner that they can operate in unison with each other.There are known various types of the recording equipment for recordingan audio signal, for example, and hence an unspecified recordingequipment, which will be connected to the tuner, cannot directly becontrolled substantially based on data from a broadcast station fromwhich music program is transmitted.

Only one recording equipment is not always connected to the tuner, and aplurality of recording equipment may be connected to the tuner. In thatcase, the broadcast station is unable to select a specific recordingequipment to which a music program should be downloaded, and hence thetuner has to explore some countermeasures to select a specific recordingequipment.

In order to make the above download become possible, the assignee of thepresent application has previously proposed a control equipment in whicha program (HTML (Hyper Text Make-Up Language), MHEG (Multimedia andHypermedia Information Coding Experts Group), XML (extensive MarkupLanguage) called scripts) from the outside obtains device informationfrom an internal program previously-prepared in the tuner and is able toinstruct the tuner to select a specific device onto which the broadcastmusic program should be downloaded based on the device information(Japanese patent application No. 10-202360 (1998)).

The processing proposed by the previously-proposed applicationencounters with the problem that, when the user energizes the tuner tostart the download first time, the tuner is unable to determine whichdevice is the recording equipment onto which the music program should bedownloaded. A device that has been selected as the recording device towhich the music program should be downloaded is referred to as a“default device”.

While the default device is not existing, e.g., downloading is effectedon the recording equipment for the first time, the external programshould execute the sequence to request the internal program to obtaininformation of devices currently connected to the tuner, to display alist of connected devices and to request a user to select a specificdevice onto which music program should be downloaded.

Even when the tuner stored the previously-obtained information of thedevice in a predetermined memory within a control section (CPU), if thecorresponding device is not connected to the tuner in the next download(e.g., if a user purchases a new device on which data should bedownloaded and changes the previous device), then the tuner has to againobtain information of currently connected devices, to display a list ofthose connected devices and to urge the user to again select one devicethat should be used.

In the previously-proposed download, the download is effected on thedevice on which the download has been effected previously. Depending onthe state of the device onto which data should be downloaded (whetherthe device has already been powered or a recording media has alreadybeen inserted into the device), after processing for executing thedownload has started, when a recording media is not inserted into thedevice, an abnormality occurs in the download and the download is oftenended in somewhere of its processing. There is then the possibility thatthe tuner will become unable to select a proper device as a defaultdevice. Hence, the tuner has to make some device to solve this problem.

When a tuner can be connected to various networks (e.g., IEEE (TheInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 system, USB(Universal Serial Bus), etc.), unless the user makes complicated inputoperation to specify a device, the user becomes unable to specify adownload target device connected to a specific network. Consequently,operation for the download becomes considerably cumbersome for the user.

While the problem arising when the music program is transmitted throughthe digital satellite broadcast has been described so far, a similarproblem arises when various programs transmitted from the outside bybroadcast waves are downloaded onto the receiving side based on datatransmitted together with those programs.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method anda control equipment in which a program obtained from the outside caneasily be downloaded onto a connected device after a device to which aprogram should be downloaded has properly be selected.

According to the first invention, there is provided a control method inwhich a second device connected to a first device is controlled byexecuting a first program inputted to the first device from the outsideand a second program prepared beforehand in the first device.

The most desirable device is selected from devices connected to thefirst device as the second device by executing the second program, andthe first program is executed by using information of the selecteddevice. With this arrangement, when an external program, for example,requests an internal program to obtain default device information, evenif a default device ID is not stored in a predetermined memory, theninformation of a currently-connected device can be obtained by returninginformation of the most desirable device of the connected devices and alist of connected devices can be displayed. Consequently, a user cansave a lot of time and labor required when the user selects a targetdevice in a target network from the list of connected devices, and hencethe user can download data more easily and efficiently.

According to the second invention, in the control method according tothe first invention, the second device is selected when informationconcerning the second device is not stored in a connected deviceinformation storage section of the first device. With this arrangement,even when the default device is not selected, an optimum device canautomatically be selected.

According to the third invention, in the control method according to thefirst invention, the second device is selected when a device instructedby information stored in the connected device information storagesection of the first device is not connected. With this arrangement,when a device that has already been selected as a default device isdisconnected from the network, an optimum device can automatically beselected from other devices within the network.

According to the fourth invention, in the control method according tothe first invention, device information used at every type of device isstored in the connected device information storage section, the first orsecond program includes processing for selecting the type of device andwhen a device of the type instructed by the program should be selected,the most desirable device is selected as the second device. With thisarrangement, when various types of devices are controlled, deviceinformation need not be obtained, and hence the user can download datamore easily and efficiently.

According to the fifth invention, in the control method according to thefirst invention, the information obtained when the second program isexecuted is information of an identification code granted to the seconddevice. With this arrangement, the first device side can discriminatethe type of the second device, and the second device can properly becontrolled based on the discriminated identification code.

According to the sixth invention, in the control method according to thefirst invention, the second program is a program for effectingprocessing on the second device connected through a bus line of apredetermined format. With this arrangement, control corresponding tothe format of the bus line connecting the first and second devicesbecomes possible.

According to the seventh invention, in the control method according tothe first invention, the second program is a program for settinginformation concerning the second device by predetermined inputoperation. With this arrangement, the control method can cope with asecond device incapable of transmitting its own information.

According to the eighth invention, in the control method according tothe first invention, the first program is obtained by receiving a signaltransmitted from a broadcast signal transmission side throughpredetermined broadcast waves. With this arrangement, when the broadcastsignal transmitting side, for example, transmits a first program forinstructing downloading of a broadcasting program of a predeterminedchannel, the side which receives this program can obtain information ofa connected device by a second program activated by the first program,can effect a proper download on the device and can download an arbitrarybroadcasting program in response to an instruction from the broadcastsignal transmitting side.

According to the ninth invention, in the control method according to thefirst invention, the first program is obtained by receiving a signaltransmitted through wired broadcast. With this arrangement, an arbitrarybroadcast program can be downloaded in response to an instruction fromthe wired broadcast transmitting side.

According to the tenth invention, there is provided a control method inwhich a second device connected to a first device is controlled byexecuting a first program inputted into the first device from theoutside and a second program prepared beforehand in the first device.When an abnormality occurs in control of the second device and thecontrol is ended, information concerning the second device is stored ina predetermined storage section of the first device. Next time a devicecontrolled by the first device is selected, the second device iscontrolled based on information stored in the storage section. With thisarrangement, while an external program, for example, requests of aninternal program to make the download, even when an abnormality occursin a media inserted into a download target device and the internalprogram ends abnormally, if an ID of such device is stored, a userremoves the abnormality and uses the device having the stored ID as thedefault device, then the user need not select the default device againand the user can download data more easily and efficiently.

According to the eleventh invention, there is provided a controlequipment which is comprised of a first storage section in which a firstprogram inputted from the outside is stored, a second storage section inwhich a second program prepared beforehand and which is activated by thefirst program is stored, and a processing section in which programsstored in the respective storage sections are executed, after the mostdesirable device was selected from connected devices by executing thesecond program stored in the second storage section, information of theselected device is obtained and the connected device is controlled basedon the obtained information. With this arrangement, when an externalprogram requests of an internal program to obtain default deviceinformation, even if default device ID is not stored in a predeterminedmemory, then information of currently-connected device can be obtainedby returning information of the most desirable device from the connecteddevices, a list of the connected devices can be displayed and the usercan save a lot of time and labor to select a desired device in a desirednetwork from the displayed list of the connected devices. Accordingly,there is obtained a network device in which the user can download datamore easily and efficiently.

According to the twelfth invention, in the control equipment accordingto the eleventh invention, the processing section selects the mostdesirable device from the connected devices when information ofcontrolled devices is not stored in the second storage section. Withthis arrangement, even when a default device is not selected, theoptimum device can automatically be selected.

According to the thirteenth invention, in the control equipmentaccording to the eleventh invention, the processing section selects themost desirable device from other connected devices when the devicestored in the second storage section is not connected as the controlleddevice. With this arrangement, when the device that had already beenselected as the default device is disconnected from the network, theoptimum device can automatically be selected from other devices withinthe network.

According to the fourteenth invention, in the control equipmentaccording to the eleventh invention, device information used at everytype of device is stored in the second storage section and theprocessing section selects the most desirable device from the type whenthe device of the type instructed by the first or second program shouldbe selected. With this arrangement, when various types of devices arecontrolled, device information need not be obtained, and the user candownload data more easily and efficiently.

According to the fifteenth invention, in the control equipment accordingto the eleventh invention, information that the processing sectionobtains from the device by executing the second program is informationof identification code granted to the device. With this arrangement, thecontrol equipment can discriminate the type of the connected device andthe connected device can properly be controlled based the discriminatedidentification code.

According to the sixteenth invention, the control equipment according tothe eleventh invention includes an interface section for communicatingwith a device through a bus line of a predetermined format and in whichthe processing section obtains information of the connected device bycommunication through the interface section and the connected device canbe controlled by communication through the interface section. With thisarrangement, devices connected by a bus line such as an IEEE 1394 bus,for example, can be controlled satisfactorily.

According to the seventeenth invention, the control equipment accordingto the eleventh invention includes an input section for inputtinginformation concerning devices and a remote control signal outputsection for outputting a remote control signal of a predetermined formatin response to a command from the processing section and in which theinput section obtains information of the connected device wheninformation concerning device is inputted and the processing sectionenables the remote control signal output section to output a remotecontrol signal based on the obtained information. With this arrangement,even when a device incapable of transmitting its own information isconnected, this device can be controlled satisfactorily.

According to the eighteenth invention, the control equipment accordingto the eleventh invention includes a receiving section for receiving abroadcast signal of a predetermined format and in which a first programcontained in the received broadcast signal is stored in the firststorage section. With this arrangement, when a broadcast signaltransmitting side, for example, transmits the first program instructingthe download of a broadcast program of a predetermined channel, thecontrol equipment which received this program obtains information of aconnected device by the second program activated by the first programand the proper download processing on the device can be executedsatisfactorily and an arbitrary broadcast program can properly bedownloaded onto the device connected to the control equipment by theinstruction from the broadcast signal transmitting side.

According to the nineteenth invention, in the control equipmentaccording to the eighteenth invention, the receiving section is areceiving section for receiving a satellite broadcast signal relayed bya predetermined artificial satellite. With this arrangement, a broadcastprogram transmitted by the satellite broadcast signal can be downloadedsatisfactorily.

According to the twentieth invention, in the control equipment accordingto the eighteenth invention, the receiving section is a receivingsection for receiving a signal transmitted through a wired broadcast.With this arrangement, a broadcast program transmitted via the wiredbroadcast can be downloaded satisfactorily.

In accordance with the twenty-first invention, there is provided acontrol equipment which is comprised of a first storage section in whicha first program inputted from the outside is stored, a second storagesection in which a second program prepared beforehand and which isactivated by the first program is stored and a processing section inwhich the programs stored in the respective storage sections areexecuted, information of connected device is obtained based on executionof the second program stored in the second storage section, theconnected device is controlled based on the obtained information, whenan abnormality occurs in the control and the control is ended, thecontrolled device is selected in the next control. With thisarrangement, while an external program, for example, requests of aninternal program to make downloading, even when an abnormality occurs ina media inserted into a download target device and the internal programends abnormally, if an ID of such device is stored, a user removes theabnormality and uses the device having the stored ID as the defaultdevice, the user need not select the default device again, and the usercan download data more easily and efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an arrangement of thewhole of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a picturereceived and reproduced on a screen according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a datatransmitting side according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing examples of transmitted dataaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing examples of transmitted statesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of connection according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of an arrangement of arecording and reproducing equipment according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of an arrangement of an IRDaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the manner in which data isrecorded on a disk according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining anexample of downloading a predetermined channel according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining anexample of processing executed when downloading is instructed accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship betweenreceived data and programs prepared in the IRD according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaininganother example of a download.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining anexample of processing executed when device IDS are stored depending onthe kinds of devices according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining themanner in which an internal program selects a default device when adefault device ID is not stored according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of connection according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a recording equipmentaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

The system according to the present invention broadcasts a music programby using digital satellite broadcasting, enables the viewers to listento the music program by distributing audio data relating to this musicprogram and further enables the viewers to easily purchase favoritenumbers on the spot if any.

FIG. 1 shows an overall arrangement of a music contents distributionsystem to which the present invention is applied. As illustrated, aterrestrial station 1 for digital satellite broadcasting receivestelevision program broadcast material from a television program materialserver 6, music data material from a tune material server 7, audioadding information from an audio adding information server 8 and GUIdata from a GUI (Graphical User Interface: Graphical User Interface)data server 9.

The television program server 6 provides materials of ordinary musicbroadcasting programs. Materials of music program transmitted from thetelevision program material server 6 are moving pictures and sounds. Inthe ordinary music broadcasting program, promotion moving pictures andsounds to introduce new music are broadcast or a countdown of latest hitsongs is broadcast.

The tune material server 7 provides an audio program by using an audiochannel. A material of the audio program is only sounds. The tunematerial server 7 transmits materials of audio programs of a pluralityof audio channels to the terrestrial station 1. In the programbroadcasting of each channel, the same tune is repeatedly broadcastduring a predetermined time unit. Respective audio channels areindependent and may be used variously. For example, one audio channelmay broadcast a recommended number of latest Japanese popular songsrepeatedly during a predetermined time. Other audio channel maybroadcast a recommended number of latest American popular songsrepeatedly during a predetermined time, and a further audio channel maybroadcast a recommended number of Jazz repeatedly during a predeterminedtime. Moreover, a plurality of tunes by the same artist may berepeatedly broadcast from respective audio channels.

The audio adding information server 8 provides time information of tuneoutputted from the tune material server 7.

The GUI data server 9 provides data used to produce pictures of a listpage of distributed tune and of information page of each tune, data usedto produce still picture data of a jacket, data used to produce apicture for an EPG (Electric Program Guide) or the like. As will bedescribed in detail later on, according to the system to which thepresent invention is applied, a user is able to display the words of thedistributed tune, concert information of artists, or the like on thescreen by operating GUI on the screen. The user can select, download andreserve the download of music by operating GUI on the screen. The GUIdata server 9 transmits data used therefor. GUI data according to thisembodiment is data with a format standardized by MHEG (Multimedia andHypermedia Information Coding Experts Group), for example.

The terrestrial station 1 multiplexes video data and audio data servingas materials of the music program broadcasting from the televisionprogram material server 6, audio data serving as materials of audiochannels from the tune material server 7 and GUI data from the GUI dataserver 9 and transmits multiplexed data. The video data of thetelevision program broadcasting is compressed by an MPEG (Moving PictureExperts Group) 2 system, and the audio data of the television programbroadcasting is compressed by an MPEG2 audio system, for example. Audiodata of each audio channel is compressed by two different systems, e.g.,the MPEG2 audio system and an ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding)system. When these data are multiplexed, they are encrypted by using keyinformation from a key information server 10.

A signal from the terrestrial station 1 is received through anartificial satellite 2 by receiving equipment 3 installed on each home.A plurality of transponders are mounted on the satellite 2. Onetransponder has a transmission capability of 30 Mbps, for example. Asthe receiving equipment 3 installed at each home, there are prepared aparabolic antenna 11, an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) 12 which is areceiver to receive and decode a digital satellite broadcast, a storagedevice 13 for storing received data and a television receiver 14.

A signal transmitted through the satellite 2 is received at theparabolic antenna 11. The received signal is converted into apredetermined frequency by an LNB (Low Noise Block Downconverter) 15attached to the parabolic antenna 11 and supplied to the IRD 12.

The IRD 12 selects a predetermined channel signal from the receivedsignal and demodulates video data and audio data. The IRD 12 producesalso pictures for list pages of distributed music, pictures forinformation pages of each music and pictures for GUI. An output from theIRD 12 is supplied to the television receiver 14.

The storage device 13 stores therein downloaded audio data. For example,as the storage device 13, there can be used an MD recorder/player usinga magnetooptical disk called an MD (mini disc) as a recording medium, aDAT recorder/player using a magnetic tape as a recording medium, a DVDrecorder/player using a video recording optical disk as a recordingmedium, etc. A personal computer also can be used as the storage device13 and the personal computer can store audio data in a medium such as ahard disk, a CD-R, a CD-RW and a memory card.

The IRD 12 is connected through a telephone line network 4, for example,to an accounting server 5. An IC card with various information storedtherein is inserted into the IRD 12. When audio data of music isdownloaded, information of downloading is memorized in the IC card. Theinformation in this IC card is transmitted through the telephone linenetwork 4 to the accounting server 5. The accounting server 5 properlyaccounts for viewers based on the download information. A copyright of atune to be downloaded can be protected by this proper accounting.

In this manner, in the system according to this embodiment, theterrestrial station 1 multiplexes video data and audio data serving asmaterial of music program broadcast from the television program materialserver 6, audio data serving as material of audio channel from the musicmaterial server 7, audio adding information data from the audio addinginformation server 8 and GUI data from the GUI data server 9 andtransmits the data thus multiplexed. While the receiving equipment 3 ateach home receives this broadcasting, the viewer can watch the musicprogram and the GUI picture is displayed based on the GUI data thustransmitted. When the viewer is doing necessary operation while watchingthe GUI picture, the viewer can watch information page about each musicand can listen to each music on trial. While the viewer is doingnecessary operation while watching the GUI picture, the viewer candownload audio data of a desired number and store the downloaded audiodata in the storage disk 13.

Next, operation done by the viewer at the receiving equipment 3installed at each home will be described more in detail.

When this broadcasting is received by the receiving equipment 3 at eachhome, a picture shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the television receiver14. A television program display area 21A on the upper left of thescreen displays a moving picture based on the music program suppliedfrom the television program material server 6. A list 21B of tunes ofrespective channels broadcast on the audio channels is displayed on theupper right of the screen. A text display area 21C and a jacket displayarea 21D are set to the lower left of the screen. Further, a wordsdisplay button 22, a profile display button 23, an information displaybutton 24, a timer-activated recording button 25, a timer-activatedrecording list display button 26, a recording history display button 27and a download button 28 are displayed on the right-hand side of thescreen.

While watching titles of tunes displayed on the list 21B, the viewer islooking for interesting music. Having found out the interesting music,placing a cursor on the interesting tune by operating arrow keys on aremote commander and pressing the enter key on the remote commanderattached to the IRD 12, the viewer can listen to the music pointed bythe cursor. Specifically, since each audio channel is repeatedlybroadcasting the same music during a predetermined unit time, while thesame picture is being displayed on the television program display area21A, the audio channel is switched to the audio channel of theinteresting music, and hence the viewer is able to listen to theinteresting music. At that time, the jacket display area 21D displays astill picture of an MD jacket of the interesting music.

In this state, when the viewer puts the cursor on the words displaybutton 22 and presses the enter key (operation in which the viewer putsthe cursor on the button and presses the enter key will hereinafter bereferred to as “press button”), the text display area 21C displays thewords of the interesting music at the right time synchronized with audiodata. Similarly, when the viewer presses the profile display button 23or the information display button 24, the text display area 21C displaysa profile of an artist corresponding to music or concert information,etc. In this manner, the viewer is able to know pieces currentlydistributed and can get detailed information about each piece.

When the viewer wants to purchase the music that the viewer has so farlistened to on trial, the viewer presses the download button 28. Whenthe user presses the download button 28, audio data of the selectedmusic is downloaded and stored in the storage device 13. The viewer candownload words data, profile information of artist, still picture dataof jacket, etc. together with audio data of music. Each time music isdownloaded, information of the download is stored in the IC card withinthe IRD 12. Information stored in the IC card are supplied to theaccounting server 5 once per month, and hence a copyright of music to bedownloaded can be protected.

When the viewer wants to make a timer-activated downloading in advance,the viewer presses the timer-activated recording button 25. When theviewer presses this button, the GUI picture is switched and a list ofmusic that can be downloaded in a timer-activated fashion is displayedon the whole of the screen. This list can display music that had beensearched at the unit of one hour, at the unit of one week, at the unitof genre, etc. When the viewer selects desired music that should betimer-activated-downloaded from this list, information of such desiredmusic is registered within the IRD 12. When the viewer wants to confirmmusic that had already been timer-activated for the download, the viewercan display the list of timer-activated-downloading music on the wholeof the screen by pressing the timer-activated downloading list displaybutton 26. The music thus timer-activated for the download is downloadedat a timer-activated time by the IRD 12 and stored in the storage device13.

When the viewer wants to confirm music that had already been downloaded,the viewer can display the list of downloaded music on the whole of thescreen by pressing the timer-activated recording history button 27.

In this manner, in the receiving equipment 3 of the system according tothis embodiment, the list of music is displayed on the GUI picture ofthe television receiver 14. While the viewer is selecting music inaccordance with the display on the GUI picture, the viewer can listen tothe selected music on trial and can learn the words of such music, aprofile of artist, etc. Further, the viewer can download the music,timer-activate-download the music and display the list of downloadedmusic, the list of timer-activated-downloading music, etc.

As described above, the music contents distribution system according tothe present invention can distribute the music broadcast programs andcan also distribute audio data of music by using a plurality of audiochannels. The viewer can search desired music by using a list ofdistributed music, or the like and can easily store audio data in thestorage device 13. This system will further be described below morefully.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the terrestrial station 1 in the musiccontents distribution system according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, material data from a television program materialregistration system 31 is registered on an AV server 35. The materialdata comprises video data and audio data. The data registered on the AVserver 35 is transmitted to a television program transmitting system 39,in which video data is compressed by the MPEG2 system, for example, andaudio data is compressed by the MPEG2 audio system, for example, andthereby converted into packets. The output from the television programtransmission system 39 is transmitted to a multiplexer 44.

Audio data from a tune material registration system 32 is supplied to anMPEG2 audio encoder 36A and an ATRAC encoder 36B, in which it isencoded, respectively, and registered on an MPEG audio server 40A and anATRAC audio server 40B. MPEG audio data registered on the MPEG audioserver 40A is transmitted to an MPEG audio transmitting system 43A, inwhich it is converted into packets and sent to the multiplexer 44. ATRACdata registered on the ATRAC audio server 40B is transmitted to an ATRACaudio transmitting system 43B as four-times normal speed ATRAC data, inwhich it is converted into packets and transmitted to the multiplexer44.

Audio adding information from an audio adding information registrationsystem 33 is registered on an audio adding information database 37. Theaudio adding information registered on the audio adding informationdatabase 37 is transmitted to an audio adding information transmittingsystem 41, in which it is converted into packets and transmitted to themultiplexer 44.

GUI data from the GUI material registration system 34 is registered on aGUI material database 38. The GUI material data registered on the GUImaterial database 38 is transmitted to a GUI authoring system 42, inwhich GUI picture data is processed, converted into packets andtransmitted to the multiplexer 44. The GUI material data contains stillpicture information of jacket, words information of tune, concertinformation of artist, etc. The still picture information is text datawithin 640×480 pixels and the words information is text data within 800characters, for example, compressed by JPEG (Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup) system and respectively converted into packets.

The multiplexer 44 multiplexes in timebase video packets and audiopackets from the television program transmitting system 39, audiopackets from the MPEG audio transmitting system 43A, four-times normalspeed audio packets from the ATRAC audio transmitting system 43B, audioadding information packets from the audio adding informationtransmitting system 41 and GUI data packets from the GUI authoringsystem 42 and also encrypts them by using key information from the keyinformation server 10 (FIG. 1).

An output from the multiplexer 44 is supplied to a radio wavetransmitting system 45, in which it is added with error-correctingcodes, modulated and frequency-converted, and transmitted from theantenna to the satellite 2.

FIGS. 4A to 4I show examples of data transmitted from the terrestrialstation 1. Respective data shown in the figures aretime-base-multiplexed in actual practice. As shown in FIG. 4, a timeperiod between a time t1 and a time t2 makes one event and the nextevent starts from the time t2. The event is a unit used to change alineup of music, and it is customary that one event is shown by 30minutes or one hour. For example, of top 20 of latest hit songs, hitsongs from 20th place to 11th place may be broadcast during thepreceding event and hit songs from 10th place to 1st place may bebroadcast during the succeeding event.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the event from the time t1 to the time t2, amusic program having predetermined contents A1 is broadcast by theordinary moving picture program broadcasting. In the event starting fromthe time t2, a music program having predetermined contents A2 isbroadcast. Contents that are broadcast in this ordinary music programare moving pictures and sounds.

The audio channel prepares 10 channels from channel CH1 to CH10 as shownin FIGS. 4B to 4D and in FIGS. 4E to 4F, for example. Each of the audiochannels CH1, CH2, CH3, . . . , CH10 broadcasts the same musicrepeatedly during one event. Specifically, during the event from thetime t1 to the time t2, the audio channel CH1 repeatedly transmits atune B1, the audio channel CH2 repeatedly transmits a tune C1, andsimilarly, the audio channel CH10 repeatedly transmits a tune K1. In theevent starting from the time t2, the audio channel CH1 repeatedlytransmits a tune B2, the audio channel CH2 repeatedly transmits a tuneC2, and similarly, the audio channel CH10 repeatedly transmits a tuneK2. This relationship applies for the MPEG audio channel and thefour-times normal speed ATRAC audio channel as well.

Specifically, in FIGS. 4B to 4D and FIGS. 4E to 4F, the same numeralswithin the parentheses of the MPEG audio channels and the four-timesnormal speed ATRAC audio channels indicate the channel programs of thesame tune. Numerals within the parentheses of the channel programs ofthe audio adding information shown in FIGS. 4G to 4H indicate audioadding information added to audio data having the same channel program.Further, still picture data and text data transmitted as GUI data alsoare formed at every channel. These data are time-division-multiplexedwithin the MPEG2 transport packets and transmitted as shown in FIGS. 5Ato 5D, and are rearranged within the IRD 12 by using header informationof each data packet as shown in FIGS. 5E to 5H.

The receiving equipment 3 at each home will be described next.

As shown in FIG. 1, as the receiving equipment at each home, there areprepared the parabolic antenna 11, the IRD 12, the storage device 13 andthe television receiver 14. As the storage device, there is used arecording and reproducing equipment 13A using a magnetooptical diskcalled an MD (mini disc) as a recording medium as shown in FIG. 6. Therecording and reproducing equipment 13A according to this embodiment isa deck including a terminal 71 a which can be connected with an IEEE1394 system bus line 16. The IRD 12 also includes a terminal 60 a whichcan be connected with the IEEE 1394 system bus line 16. The manner inwhich the IRD 12 and the recording and reproducing equipment 13A areconnected with each other via the IEEE 1394 system bus line 16 will bedescribed. The IEEE 1394-dependent recording and reproducing equipment13A is able to store text data including jacket data and words data aswell as audio data of music selected by the IRD 12. According to theconnection using the IEEE 1394 system bus line 16, a plurality ofdevices (e.g., up to 64 devices) can be connected by a so-called linkconnection, and a plurality of storage devices can be connected to theIRD 12 by the IEEE 1394 system bus line 16 at the same time.Accordingly, other devices may often be connected between the IRD 12 andthe recording and reproducing equipment 13A.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the arrangement of the IRD 12. As externalterminals or interfaces, the IRD 12 includes an input terminal T1, ananalog video output terminal T2, an analog audio output terminal T3, anoptical digital output interface 59, an IEEE 1394 interface 60, aman-machine interface 61, an IC card slot 62, a modem 63 and an infraredinterface 66.

The input terminal T1 is the terminal to which the received signal thatwas converted into a predetermined frequency by the LBN 15 attached tothe parabolic antenna is inputted. The analog video output terminal T2is the terminal from which the analog television signal is supplied tothe television receiver 14. The analog audio output terminal T3 is theterminal from which the analog audio signal is supplied to thetelevision receiver 14. The analog audio output terminal T4 is theterminal from which the analog audio signal is supplied to an analoginput storage device. The optical digital output interface 59 is basedon the IEC 958 to transmit PCM audio data to an optical fiber cable (notshown). The IEEE 1394 interface 60 transmits video data, audio data,various commands, etc. to the IEEE 1394 format bus line. The man-machineinterface 61 transmits inputted data, which is obtained in the form ofan infrared signal when a user operates a remote control device 64, to acontrol CPU 58. An IC card is inserted into the IC card slot 62. Themodem 63 is connected through the telephone line network 4 to theaccounting server 5. The infrared interface 66 is the interface used tocontrol the storage device by the infrared signal from the control CPU58. An infrared signal for controlling a storage device is outputtedfrom an infrared output section 67 connected through a predeterminedsignal line to the infrared interface 66.

A tuner 51 selects a signal having a predetermined frequency fromreceived signals supplied from the terminal T1 based on a setting signalfrom the control CPU 58, demodulates and error-corrects the selectedsignal and outputs an MPEG transport stream. A descrambler 52 receivesthe MPEG transport stream from the tuner 51, receives descrambling keydata from the IC card 65 through the IC card slot 62 and the control CPU58 and descrambles the transport stream by using the key data. Atransport IC 53 receives a command inputted when the user operates theremote controller 64 through the man-machine interface 61 and thecontrol CPU 58 and extracts MPEG video data and MPEG audio data of adesired television program from the transport stream. An MPEG videodecoder 55 decodes the MPEG video data supplied from the transport IC 53to provide video data obtained before data is compressed. An MPEG audiodecoder 54 decodes the MPEG audio data supplied from the transport IC 53to provide audio data (PCM audio data) obtained before data iscompressed. A DA converter 56 converts the audio data supplied from theMPEG audio decoder 54 into an analog audio signal and supplies theanalog audio signal to the analog audio output terminal T3.

The control CPU 58 processes the whole of the IRD 12. Work memories 58a, 58 b are connected to the control CPU 58. The memory 58 a is thememory in which data can freely be rewritten. MHEG data and audio addinginformation used to generate GUI pictures from the transport streamreceived at the tuner 51 and extracted by the transport IC 53 are storedin this memory 58 a. The memory 58 b is a nonvolatile memory in whichprograms are set when the IRD 12 is manufactured. In this memory, thereare stored in advance various programs necessary for operating the IRD12. A program stored in the memory 58 b is a resident program which isactivated based on the MHEG data, for example, to control processing forgenerating the GUI picture and processing for controlling the storagedevice connected to the IRD 12.

The control CPU 58 receives commands inputted when the user operates theremote control equipment 64 through the man-machine interface 61. Themodem 63 is connected to the control CPU 58. Information necessary foraccounting is stored in the IC card 65. Information in the IC card 65 istransmitted through the telephone line network 4 to the accountingserver 5 (FIG. 1) by using the modem 63.

The control CPU 58 produces pictures of list pages, pictures ofinformation pages of respective tunes or GUI picture data based on thedata stored in the memory 58 a. Picture data thus produced are writtenin predetermined areas of a buffer memory within the MPEG video decoder55. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 2, the picture of the list page ofthe broadcast tune, the picture of the information page of therespective tunes or the GUI picture can be displayed on the designatedareas on the screen.

Next, operation of the IRD 12 shown in FIG. 8 will be described.

In the IRD 12 shown in FIG. 8, when the user selects the channel of themusic contents distribution system that had been described so far, theGUI picture shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the screen of the televisionreceiver 14.

At that very moment, the received signals inputted to the terminal T1are supplied to the tuner 51. The tuner 51 selects a signal having apredetermined receiving frequency from the received signals based on thesetting signal from the control CPU 58, demodulates and error-correctsthe selected signal and outputs the MPEG transport stream.

An output from the tuner 51 is supplied to the descrambler 52. Thedescrambling key data stored in the IC card 65 is inputted to thedescrambler 52 through the IC card slot 62 and the control CPU 58, andthis descrambler descrambles the MPEG transport stream by using the keydata. The MPEG transport stream thus descrambled is supplied to thetransport IC 53.

A command inputted from the remote control equipment 64 by the user isinputted to the transport IC 53 through the man-machine interface 61 andthe control CPU 58. This transport IC extracts MPEG video data and MPEGaudio data of a desired television program from the transport stream inaccordance with the command and supplies the video data and the audiodata to the MPEG video decoder 55 and the MPEG audio decoder 54.

The MPEG video data supplied to the MPEG video decoder 55 is decodedinto video data obtained before data is compressed, and supplied to anNTSC converting block 57, in which it is converted into a compositevideo signal and outputted from the analog video output terminal T2 tothe television receiver. The MPEG audio data supplied to the MPEG audiodecoder 54 is decoded into audio data obtained before data iscompressed, and supplied to a DA converter 56, in which it is convertedinto an analog audio signal and outputted from the analog audio outputterminal T3 to the television receiver.

When the viewer selects music based on the tune list 21B displayed onthe GUI picture shown in FIG. 2 and listens to audio data of theselected music on trial, MPEG audio data is extracted by the transportIC 53, the extracted audio data is decoded by the MPEG audio decoder 53,digital-to-analog-converted by the DA converter 56 and outputted fromthe analog audio output terminal T3 to the television receiver 14 (FIG.1).

When the viewer downloads audio data by pressing the download button 28on the GUI picture shown in FIG. 2, audio data is extracted by thetransport IC 53 and audio data is outputted from any one of the analogaudio output terminal T3, the optical digital output interface 59 andthe IEEE 1394 interface 60.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when the IEEE 1394 dependent recordingand reproducing equipment 13A is connected to the IEEE 1394 interface60, the four-times normal speed ATRAC data is extracted by the transportIC 53 and supplied through the IEEE 1394 interface 60 to the IEEE 1394dependent recording and reproducing equipment 13A. At that very time,the jacket data compressed by the JPEG system is extracted by thetransport IC 53 and supplied through the IEEE 1394 interface 60 to theIEEE 1394 dependent recording and reproducing equipment 13A. Further, atthat very time, text data such as the words and the profile of theartist is extracted by the transport IC 53 and supplied through the IEEE1394 interface 60 to the IEEE 1394 dependent recording and reproducingequipment 13A.

When a storage device (of the type which does not include the IEEE 1394interface) is connected to the optical digital output interface 59, theMPEG audio data is extracted by the transport IC 53, decoded by the MPEGdecoder 54, and PCM audio data is supplied through the optical digitaloutput interface 59 to the storage device. The arrangement therefor willbe described later on.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of theIEEE 1394 dependent recording and reproducing equipment 13A. The IEEE1394 dependent recording and reproducing equipment 13A includes an IEEE1394 interface 71, an optical digital input interface 72, an analogaudio input terminal T12 and an analog audio output terminal T13. TheIEEE 1394 interface 71 is directly connected to a recording andreproducing section 75. The optical digital input interface 72 isconnected through an ATRAC encoder 74 to the recording and reproducingsection 75. The analog audio input terminal T12 is connected through anA/D converter 73 to an ATRAC encoder 73. The analog audio outputterminal T13 is connected through a D/A converter 78 and an ATRACdecoder 77 to the recording and reproducing section 75. A disk(magnetooptical disk) 76 is set to the recording and reproducing section75, and data is recorded on and reproduced from this disk 76. Althoughnot shown, this recording and reproducing equipment includes a controlCPU for controlling the whole of the IEEE 1394 dependent recording andreproducing equipment 13A and a man-machine interface.

Next, the manner in which the IEEE 1394 dependent recording andreproducing equipment 13A operates upon recording will be described.

When the IEEE 1394 interface 71 and the IEEE 1394 interface 60 of theIRD 12 shown in FIG. 8 are connected with each other, the audio data ofthe music transmitted from the IEEE 1394 interface 60, the text datasuch as the words and the still picture data such as the jacket areinputted from the IEEE 1394 interface 71 to the recording andreproducing equipment and recorded on the disk 76 by the recording andreproducing section 75. Respective data are recorded on the disk 76according to the extended MD format as will be described later on.

When PCM audio data is inputted to the optical digital input interface72 from the outside, the inputted PCM audio data is encoded by the ATRACencoder 74 and recorded on the disk 76 by the recording and reproducingsection 75.

An analog audio signal is inputted to the analog audio input terminalT12 from the outside, the inputted analog audio signal isanalog-to-digital-converted by the AD converter 73, encoded by the ATRACencoder 74 and recorded on the disk 76 by the recording and reproducingsection 75.

Specifically, the IEEE 1394 dependent recording and reproducingequipment 13A records the words data and the still picture data of thejacket together with the audio data of the music only when it and theIRD 12 are connected to each other by the IEEE 1394 interface, andrecords only the audio data when they are connected to each other by theoptical digital interface or the analog audio connection.

Upon reproduction, a reproduced signal can be outputted from the IEEEinterface 71 or the analog audio output terminal T13. When a reproducedsignal is outputted from the IEEE 1394 interface 71, if the words dataand the jacket data are recorded on the disk 76 together with the audiodata of the music, then the music data can be outputted to an IEEE 1394dependent audio device (amplifier, etc.), the words data and the jacketdata can be displayed on an IEEE 1394 dependent display and can beprinted out by an IEEE 1394 dependent printer.

In this manner, the IEEE 1394 dependent recording and reproducingequipment to which the present invention is applied is able to recordand reproduce the words data and the jacket data as well as the audiodata of the music.

The above recording and reproduction become possible by using anextended MD format shown in FIG. 9. As illustrated, audio data of tuneis recorded on a main data area by the ATRAC system, which is the sameas the existing MD format. According to the extended MD format, theaforementioned jacket data, words data, or the like are recorded on anauxiliary data (Aux Data) area of 2.8 Mbytes. The jacket data and thewords data as well as the audio data of the music can be recorded andreproduced by using this format. This extended format can maintain acompatibility with the existing MD format.

Processing executed when the receiving equipment shown in FIG. 7downloads the ATRAC audio data of the music which is the music programand the jacket data and the words data which are the audio addinginformation will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 10.

First, a user the operates the IRD 12 to select an EMD (Electric MusicDownload) channel, i.e., the music broadcasting channel in which musicdata can be downloaded as was described so far (step 101). To beconcrete, while the user is watching an EPG picture displayed on thetelevision receiver 14, the user gives a channel selecting command tothe remote control equipment 64 shown in FIG. 7. In the IRD 12, thecontrol CPU 58 receives the user channel selecting command through theman-machine interface 61 and supplies a channel setting signal to thetuner 51 thereby to set a desired channel.

When this channel is selected, it is determined by the control CPU 58based on section data called a PMT (Program Map Table) whether or notthe MHEG data for forming the EPG picture (list picture) exists in theselected channel (step 102). If the MHEG data for forming the EPGpicture does not exist in the selected channel, then it is determinedthat the selected channel is not the channel in which the music data canbe downloaded. Then, control is ended. When the channel in which theabove ATRAC audio data is transmitted is selected, the MHEG data forforming the EPG picture exists in the selected channel, and hence thecontrol CPU 58 activates a program (resident program), which interpretsthe previously-prepared MHEG data, in the work memory 58 b to interpretthe received MHEG data (step 103).

Based on the interpreted MHEG data, the control CPU 58 forms image dataof EPG picture and supplies the image data to the decoder 55 so that theimage data is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 14connected to the IRD 12 (step 104). The displayed EPG picture is thepicture shown in FIG. 2, for example. The control CPU 58 is placed inthe standby mode until the user downloads the selected music byoperating the keys of the remote control equipment 64 (step 105). When aremote control signal corresponding to the depression of the downloadbutton 28 is supplied, a get device program within a resident programprepared beforehand in the memory 58 b is activated. A device ID of thestorage device 13A connected via the IEEE 1394 system bus line isobtained by this get device program and transmitted to an MHEG dataexecution processing section (step 106). The device ID is anidentification code granted beforehand to the connection of the IEEE 394system bus line by a predetermined bit rate (64 bits) and in which avendor code, a type code of device type and a serial code of a deviceare arranged according to a predetermined standard. When the device IDis discriminated by the program prepared in the memory 58 b, the controlCPU 58 can understand the type and the function of the connected device.Details of processing for obtaining a device ID by the resident programwill be described later on.

When the control CPU 58 obtains the device ID of the connected storagedevice, it generates image data used to display a list of devicesconnected to the IRD 12 based on the obtained device ID and supplies thegenerated image data to the decoder 55 to display the image data on thescreen of the television receiver 14 connected to the IRD 12 (step 107).The control CPU 58 is placed in the standby mode until the user selectsthe device displayed on the screen by operating the keys of the remotecontrol equipment 64 (step 108). When the remote control signalcorresponding to the selecting operation of this device is supplied, thecontrol equipment is placed in the standby mode until ATRAC data of thenumber that was instructed to be downloaded at the step 105 is received.At the right time in which this data is received, still picture data(JPEG data) such as jacket data of this number and text data such aswords of this number are transmitted to the selected device (storagedevice) from the IEEE 1394 interface 60 to the bus line 16. At that verytime, a node ID set to the selected device is granted to datatransmitted from the IEEE 1394 interface 60 as a destination address.The ATRAC data which is audio data of the number is transferred in anisochronous transfer mode (isochronous transfer), and the JPEG data andthe text data are transferred in an asynchronous transfer mode(asynchronous transfer). Control data which enables the device at thedestination to execute processing such as recording transmitted ATRACdata also is transmitted in the asynchronous transfer mode. With thisprocessing, the data transmitted to the bus line 16 is recorded on aconnected device, i.e., the disk loaded onto the IEEE 1394 dependentrecording and reproducing equipment 13A in the state shown in FIG. 9.

It is determined by the control CPU 58 whether or not the download ofall data concerning the number selected by the IEEE 1394 bus line 16 isended (step 110). If it is determined that the download is ended, thenit is determined whether or not the download of another number isinstructed (step 111). If it is determined that the download of anothernumber is instructed, then control goes back to the step 109, whereatanother number is downloaded. If it is determined at the step 111 thatthe download of all selected numbers is ended, processing concerning thedownload is ended. When the download of this ATRAC audio data isexecuted, if this data is pay data, then predetermined accountingprocessing is executed (details of accounting processing will beomitted).

The manner of getting a device ID based on the resident program shown inthis flowchart will be described more in detail with reference to aflowchart of FIG. 11 and a diagram showing a correspondence of programsshown in FIG. 12. First, the states of the programs will be describedwith reference to FIG. 12. As the program (script) shown by receivedMHEG data and which is stored in the memory 58 a connected to thecontrol CPU 58, there are prepared a program for instructing thedownload, a program for instructing control device processing to controla connected storage device, a program for instructing get-deviceprocessing to obtain a device ID of a connected storage device, asetting area of variables set by each processing, etc. Addresses ofresident programs corresponding to commands of programs for instructingeach processing are set to the control CPU 58. Execution programs ofrespective commands are prepared beforehand at predetermined addresspositions of the memory 58 b.

The processing for getting the device ID by the resident program in thestate in which the programs are set as described above will be describedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11. When the commandcorresponding to the depression of the download button is issued at thestep 105 of the flowchart of FIG. 10, a name of a resident programactivated by operation in the script (get-device) is supplied to aprocessor section of the control CPU 58 (step 121). The processorsection judges the storage address of the corresponding program(get-device) stored in the memory 58 b based on the command instructedby the received program and the data corresponding to the address of theresident program prepared on the IRD 12 side and transmits an executioncommand of the program of such address (step 122).

Since this execution command is generated, the processor section withinthe control CPU 58 executes the get-device program stored in the memory58 b (step 123). While this get-device program is being executed, datafor requesting the return of device ID is transmitted from the IEEE 1394interface 60 to all nodes (devices) connected to this interface 60 bythe bus lines in the asynchronous transfer mode, for example. All nodeswhich received this data return device IDS granted to the devices to theIRD 12 through the bus line in the asynchronous transfer mode, andreturned data are supplied from the IEEE 1394 interface 60 to thecontrol CPU 58. If this device ID is transmitted, the control CPU 58judges the type of the device based on the transmitted device ID.

When there is connected as the storage device capable of recording ATRACaudio data (e.g., the IEEE dependent recording and reproducing equipment13A connected as shown in FIG. 6), the control CPU 58 generates imagedata used to display a list of devices on the screen by using theresident program and supplies the image data to the decoder 55 so thatthe image data is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 14connected to the IRD 12 (step 124). When the device list is displayed,types of devices judged from the device IDs (abbreviated names of devicetypes such as MD, DVD and personal computer) are displayed. If there area plurality of device types having the same name, then they aredisplayed with serial numbers like MD1, MD2, for example. Depending onthe circumstances, more detailed information such as vender names mayalso be displayed. The steps following the step 108 in which the userselects the device from the displayed device list are the same as thoseof the flowchart shown in FIG. 10.

With the above processing, when the device as the storage device capableof recording ATRAC audio data is connected to the IRD 12 through theIEEE 1394 system bus line, based on the MHEG data transmitted from theATRAC audio data transmitting side, the processing for generating a listof connected devices is activated, the processing itself is executed bythe resident program prepared beforehand within the IRD 12 to displaythe list and the user can easily select a device onto which ATRAC audiodata is downloaded. Although the IRD 12 displays the list based on theMHEG data transmitted from the transmitting side apparently, in actualpractice, the details of the processing for getting the device ID areexecuted by the resident program prepared in the IRD 12 and a properdevice ID can be obtained based on the actual arrangement of the IRD 12.In sectionicular, since a large number of devices (e.g., 64 devices) canbe connected by the IEEE 1394 format bus line, a proper device canefficiently be selected from a plurality of devices connected to the IRD12 by the bus line based on the displayed list.

While the download is being selected, device IDs are always obtained andthe list of all devices is displayed in the processing shown in theflowchart of FIG. 10. If a default device get request program stored inthe memory 58 b judges the most desirable device from more than onedevice currently-connected by some processing and returns data of themost desirable device to the second program, then a user can omitoperation for selecting a device and can more easily and efficientlydownload data. This processing for selecting a desirable device will bedescribed later on. Processing executed when the default device existswill be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 13. In theflowchart of FIG. 13, the steps from the step 101 for selecting the EMDchannel to the step 105 for downloading the selected number are the sameas those of the flowchart of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 13, if it is determined at the step 105 that thedownload button is depressed, then the control CPU 58 within the IRD 12gets the default ID into the CPU 58 (step 131). It is then determinedwhether or not the default device ID is stored in the control CPU 58 bythe execution of this processing (step 132). If the default device ID isstored in the control central processing unit, then the control CPU 58generates image data for urging the user to confirm the download on thedefault device and displays the image data on the screen of thetelevision receiver 14 so that the user may confirm the download on thedefault device (step 133). When the user selects the download on thedefault device by operating the remote control equipment 64, thedownload on the default device is executed similarly to the processingat the aforementioned step 110 of the flowchart of FIG. 10 (step 134).When this download is finished (step 135), the device ID of the deviceto which the data has already been downloaded is stored in apredetermined memory within the control CPU 58 and set to the defaultdevice (step 136). Then, it is determined whether or not another numberis downloaded (step 137). If it is determined that another number isdownloaded, then control goes back to the step 105. If it is determinedthat another number is not downloaded, then the download processing isended.

If it is determined at the step 132 that the default device ID is notstored and if it is determined at the step 133 that the number is notdownloaded to the default device, then control goes to a step 141,whereat the device ID is obtained by the get-device processing and alist based on the obtained device ID is displayed (step 141). Then, theuser selects a device from the displayed list (step 142) and executesthe download on the selected device (step 143). The steps 141 to 143 arethe same as the steps 106 to 109 described in the flowchart shown inFIG. 10. After the download was started at the step 143, control goes toa step 135, whereat the central processing unit is placed in the standbymode until the download is ended. At that time, the device ID of thedevice to which the number was downloaded is stored in a predeterminedmemory within the control CPU 58 as a default device ID (step 136).

In this manner, since the device ID of the device that had been used inthe last time download is stored in the IRD 12 as the default device ID,when data is downloaded on the same device as that was used the lasttime, the processing for getting the device ID of the device connectedvia the bus line need not be executed, and hence a time required by theselection processing can be reduced. Moreover, the selecting operationrequired by the user is only the confirmation work at the step 133 andhence the user can operate the control equipment considerably easily.While the default device ID is stored in the predetermined memory at thestep 136, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the defaultdevice ID may be stored before the download is ended. For example,although the designated device is connected to the network, if arecordable recording media is not inserted into the device, then thedownload will not be ended normally. If the device ID is stored even insuch case, then after the user has made necessary operation (after theuser has inserted a correct recording media), the external program againobtains the default device ID and executes the download processing basedon the default device ID thus obtained so that the number of the user'sinput operation can be decreased, thereby making it possible for theuser to use the control equipment more easily and efficiently.

Processing in which the program stored in the memory 58 b properlyselects the default device and transmits information to the externalprogram will be described in detail. Most preferably, the ID of thedevice on which data was downloaded should be stored in thepredetermined memory within the control CPU 58. Then, when the externalprogram instructs the default device get request, the device ID storedin the memory should be transmitted to the external program. If defaultdevice IDs and their types are stored in the predetermined memory withinthe control CPU 58 at every type of the device in preparation forrequests of default devices with device type designated from theexternal program, then even when data is downloaded onto various typesof devices, default devices are being prepared for devices of respectivetypes, and hence the user can save a lot of time and labor. As the typesof devices, there are enumerated an MD recorder/player, a DATrecorder/player, a DVD recorder/player, a digital video (DV)recorder/player, a personal computer, etc.

An example of processing in that case will be described with referenceto a flowchart of FIG. 14. The fundamental processing sequence is thesame as the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13. Specifically,after the depression of the download button has been detected at thestep 105, when information of a default device is obtained at a step131′, a default device concerning the type designated at that time isobtained. Then, after the download has been ended at the step 135, wheninformation of a default device is stored in the memory within thecontrol CPU 58 at a step 136′, not only the ID of such default devicebut also information of the device type (e.g., type such as MD, DAT) maybe stored in the memory.

When the receiver (IRD) is powered for the first time or when the userdisconnects the device which becomes the default device in the abovesequence from the network in the next download, even though the devicesthat had been used so far are stored in the memory within the controlCPU 58, the list should be displayed again and the user has to selectthe device. In such case, when the devices of the type designated by theexternal program are connected to the network, the optimum device may beselected from the connected devices as the default device and theinternal program may return default device information to the externalprogram.

A flowchart of FIG. 15 shows an example of processing executed in theabove case. Processing of this flowchart will be described below. Steps101 to 132 are the same as those shown in FIG. 14. Steps executed whendata is downloaded on the default device shown by an ID stored in thememory within the control CPU 58 (steps 133 to 137) also are the same asthose shown in the preceding flowchart.

If it is determined at the step 132 that the default device ID is notstored in the memory within the control CPU 58, or if such device isdisconnected from the network by the user even when the default deviceidentification code is stored in the memory, then control goes to a step151, whereat it is determined by the internal program whether or not adevice which agrees with the conditions (types of devices on which datashould be downloaded) requested from the outside at the step 131′ isconnected to the network at present. If it is determined that more thanone proper devices are connected to the network, then the internalprogram selects the device that is connected nearest to the network froma timebase standpoint as the default device and returns information ofsuch default device to the external program. If the default device isselected at the step 151, then it is determined by the user whether ornot data should be downloaded on the selected device (step 152). If theuser selects the download of data on the selected device, then thedownload of data on the selected device is executed (step 153), andcontrol goes back to the step 135.

If the default device cannot be selected at the step 151 or if the userdoes not designate the download of data on the default device at thestep 133 or 152, then control goes to a step 141, whereat the externalprogram requests the resident program to obtain the device ID of theconnected device and displays the list of the devices. Then, if the userselects a desired device from the list (step 142), then the download ofdata on the selected device is executed (step 143), and control goesback to the step 135.

Also in this case, when information of the default device is stored inthe memory within the control CPU 58 at the step 136′ after the downloadhas been ended at the step 135, the ID of such device and the type ofsuch device are stored in the memory.

While data is downloaded on the storage device connected to the IRD 12by the IEEE 1394 format bus line as described above, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and data can be downloaded on a storagedevice which does not include the IEEE 1394 format interface. FIG. 16 isa diagram showing an example of a system configuration of receivingequipment used in that case. A storage device prepared herein is a discrecording and reproducing equipment 13B using a magnetooptical diskcalled an MD as a recording medium. This disc recording and reproducingequipment includes an optical digital input interface 72. An outputterminal 59 a of an optical digital input interface 59 of an IRD 12 isconnected to an input terminal of the optical digital input interface 72of the disc recording and reproducing equipment 13B by an optical cable17 (or coaxial cable) so that digital data can be transmitted. The discrecording and reproducing equipment includes also a man-machineinterface 79 a to which a remote control signal based on infrared raysis inputted. An infrared-ray output section 67 connected to theinfrared-ray interface 66 (see FIG. 7) of the IRD 12 is disposed in thevicinity of an infrared-ray light-receiving section of this man-machineinterface 79 a.

FIG. 17 shows an arrangement of the disc recording and reproducingequipment 13B. Although the fundamental arrangement by which data can berecorded on the disc and reproduced from the disc is the same as that ofthe disc recording and reproducing equipment 13A shown in FIG. 8, thisdisc recording and reproducing equipment is not provided with the IEEE1394 interface but the man-machine interface 79 a to which the remotecontrol signal is inputted is connected to a control CPU 79. A rest ofthe arrangement is the same as that of the disc recording andreproducing equipment 13A shown in FIG. 8.

With the above arrangement, based on image data formed by the controlCPU 58 of the IRD 12, some setting picture (e.g., initializationpicture) is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 14, andthe user sets the connection of the disc recording and reproducingequipment 13A by selecting pictures on the screen with the remotecontrol equipment 64. At that time, the user may set the type of theconnected device or the like. Based on the information set by the user'soperation, the control CPU 58 gives a peculiar device ID to theconnected device. For example, assuming that the device ID obtained fromthe device connected by the above IEEE 1393 format bus line is formed of64 bits, then the device ID set by the user is formed of 65 bits inwhich 1 bit is added to the lowest-order bit of 64 bits and the user canrecognize by the added 1 bit that the device code is the device codegiven by the setting of user 64 bits other than the lowest-order 1 bitmay be set based on the state provided by the setting of user.Alternatively, bits other than the lowest-order 1 bit may be madenegligible.

When the user operates the control equipment to instruct the download,received ATRAC audio data is supplied to the audio decoder 54 within theIRD 12, in which the ATRAC data is decoded into digital audio data whichis not compressed, and supplied from the optical digital outputinterface 59 through the optical cable 17 to the optical digital inputinterface 72 of the disc recording and reproducing equipment 13B. At thesame time, a command for controlling the recording at the recording andreproducing equipment 13B is generated by the control CPU 58 of the IRD12 and such command is supplied to the infrared-ray interface 66 so thata remote control signal for starting the recording operation of therecording and reproducing equipment 13B is outputted from theinfrared-ray output section 67 connected to the infrared-ray interface66 to thereby record the supplied digital audio data on the disc. Atthat time, after the supplied audio data has been again encoded into theATRAC audio data and compressed, the recording and reproducing equipment13B records the encoded ATRAC audio data.

At the right time the download is ended, a command for stopping therecording at the recording and reproducing equipment 13B is generatedfrom the control CPU 58 of the IRD 12, and such command is supplied tothe infrared-ray interface 66 so that a remote control signal forstopping the recording operation at the recording and reproducingequipment 13B is outputted from the infrared-ray output section 67connected to the infrared-ray interface 66 thereby to stop the recordingoperation on the disc.

When data is downloaded on the storage device by the connection whichdoes not use the bus line as described above, still picture data andtext data accompanying with the ATRAC audio data are not transmitted andonly the audio data is recorded on the disc.

With the above arrangement, the present invention can cope with thedownload on the storage device which is not provided with the interfaceof the IEEE 1394 format bus line.

While the audio data called ATRAC audio data is downloaded on thestorage device using the recording medium called the MD (mini disc) asdescribed above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and canbe applied to processing executed when other data such as audio data,image data, electronic mail data and various contents data of internetobtained from the outside are downloaded on the connected storage devicebased on program data simultaneously transmitted from the datatransmitting side.

While the MHEG format data is transmitted as the EPG data distributedfrom the broadcast station side as described above, the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to the case inwhich the above data is transmitted as data of other formats. Forexample, the present invention can be applied to the case in which dataof HTML format and data of XML format are transmitted. For example, whenthe data of the XML format is transmitted, XML data may be interpretedat the step in which the MHEG data is interpreted in the flowchart ofFIG. 10. This relationship applies for other processing in theembodiment than the flowchart of FIG. 10 as well.

While the digital satellite broadcasting relayed by the artificialsatellite is applied as the transmission line from the transmitting sideof audio data or the like to the receiving equipment as described above,the present invention is not limited thereto, and other broadcastingtransmission line can be applied. For example, in a so-called cabletelevision, the ATRAC audio data and the like may be transmitted by apredetermined channel of a transmission line in which the transmittingside and the receiving equipment are directly connected with a cable byusing an optical cable or a coaxial cable and data may similarly bedownloaded on the receiving equipment side. Further, other transmissionline such as a telephone line network may be used.

Furthermore, while the storage device and the device connected to thestorage device are connected together by the IEEE 1394 format bus lineas described above, it is needless to say that they may be connected bydata transmission lines of other formats. For example, data can betransmitted in a bidirectional fashion by a radio transmission linecapable of similarly transmitting data. When data is transmitted in awireless fashion, there can be applied a standard called a Bluetooth(Bluetooth), for example.

1. A control method of controlling a second device connected to a firstdevice, comprising: receiving a first program inputted to said firstdevice from the outside via content distribution; executing the firstprogram to control said first device and initiate a second programprepared beforehand in said first device; and executing a second programprepared beforehand in said first device, said second program beingoperable to select a most desirable device as said second device fromamong a plurality of devices connected to said first device and toobtain device information for the most desirable device, and said firstprogram is operable to be executed using the device information for themost desirable device.
 2. A control method according to claim 1, whereinthe execution of said second program selects said second device wheninformation concerning said second device is not stored in a storageunit of said first device.
 3. A control method according to claim 1,wherein the execution of said second program selects said second devicewhen a device instructed by information stored in a storage unit of saidfirst device is not connected to said first device.
 4. A control methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a storage unit stores device typeinformation for the plurality of devices connected to said first device,and execution of said first or second program is operable to select themost desirable device as said second device based on the device typeindicated by said first or second program.
 5. A control method accordingto claim 1, wherein the device information obtained by executing saidsecond program is identification code information corresponding to saidsecond device.
 6. A control method according to claim 1, whereinexecution of said second program enables said second device to processdata, said second device being connected to said first device through abus line of a predetermined format.
 7. A control method according toclaim 1, wherein said second program sets information concerning saidsecond device by a predetermined input operation.
 8. A control methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said first program is transmitted throughpredetermined broadcast waves to said first device.
 9. A control methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said first program is transmitted througha wired broadcast to said first device.
 10. A control method ofcontrolling a second device connected to a first device, comprising:receiving a first program inputted to said first device from the outsidevia content distribution; executing the first program to control saidfirst device and initiate a second program prepared beforehand in saidfirst device; and executing the second program prepared beforehand insaid first device, the second program being operable to select a mostdesirable device as said second device from among a plurality of devicesconnected to said first device when executed, when control of saidsecond device is ended due to an abnormality, information concerningsaid second device that was obtained during execution of said secondprogram is stored in a storage unit of said first device and the nexttime said first device selects a controlled device, said controlleddevice is selected based upon the information stored in said storageunit.
 11. Control equipment, comprising: a receiver for receiving afirst program inputted to a first device from the outside via contentdistribution; a first storage unit for storing the first program; asecond storage unit for storing a second program prepared beforehand andwhich is activated by said first program; and a processor that executessaid first and second programs stored in said first and second storageunits, said second program being operable to select a most desirabledevice from among a plurality of devices connected to the controlequipment and to obtain information for the most desirable device, andthe most desirable device is operable to be controlled based on theobtained information.
 12. Control equipment according to claim 11,wherein said processor selects the most desirable device from theplurality of devices when information of a controlled device is notstored in said second storage unit.
 13. Control equipment according toclaim 11, wherein said processor selects the most desirable device fromother devices among the plurality of devices when a device stored insaid second storage unit is not connected as a controlled device. 14.Control equipment according to claim 11, wherein said second storageunit stores device type information for each of the plurality of devicesand said processor selects the most desirable device based on the devicetype indicated by said first or second program.
 15. Control equipmentaccording to claim 11, wherein the information obtained for the mostdesirable device when said processor executes said second program is anidentification code corresponding to the most desirable device. 16.Control equipment according to claim 11, further comprising an interfaceunit for communicating with said processor, wherein said processorobtains the information for the most desirable device through saidinterface unit and the most desirable device is controlled by saidcontrol equipment through said interface unit.
 17. Control equipmentaccording to claim 11, further comprising: an input unit for inputtingthe information concerning the most desirable device; and a remotecontrol signal output unit for outputting a remote control signal of apredetermined format in response to a command from said processor,wherein said processor obtains the information for the most desirabledevice from said input unit and said processor generates the remotecontrol signal based on the obtained information.
 18. Control equipmentaccording to claim 11, further comprising a receiver operable to receivea broadcast signal of a predetermined format, wherein said first programis contained in the broadcast signal and stored in said first storageunit.
 19. Control equipment according to claim 18, wherein said receiverreceives a satellite broadcast signal relayed by a predeterminedsatellite.
 20. Control equipment according to claim 18, wherein saidreceiver receives a signal transmitted by a wired broadcast.
 21. Controlequipment, comprising: a receiver for receiving a first program inputtedto a first device from the outside via content distribution; a firststorage unit for storing the first program; a second storage unit forstoring a second program prepared beforehand and which is activated bysaid first program; and a processor in which said first and secondprograms are executed, said second program is operable to obtaininformation from a plurality of devices and is operable to select a mostdesirable device from said plurality of devices, and the most desirabledevice is operable to be controlled based on the obtained information,and when control of the most desirable device is ended due to anabnormality, said processor selects the most desirable device the nexttime said control equipment selects a device to be controlled.
 22. Thecontrol method according to claim 1, wherein said second program isoperable to select a most desirable device as said second device fromamong a plurality of devices connected to said first device without aselection input from a user.
 23. A control method according to claim 22,wherein the execution of said second program selects said second devicewhen information concerning said second device is not stored in astorage unit of said first device.
 24. A control method according toclaim 22, wherein the execution of said second program selects saidsecond device when a device instructed by information stored in astorage unit of said first device is not connected to said first device.25. A control method according to claim 22, wherein a storage unitstores device type information for the plurality of devices connected tosaid first device, and execution of said first or second program isoperable to select the most desirable device as said second device basedon the device type indicated by said first or second program.
 26. Acontrol method according to claim 22, wherein the device informationobtained by executing said second program is identification codeinformation corresponding to said second device.
 27. A control methodaccording to claim 22, wherein execution of said second program enablessaid second device to process data, said second device being connectedto said first device through a bus line of a predetermined format.
 28. Acontrol method according to claim 22, wherein said second program setsinformation concerning said second device by a predetermined inputoperation.
 29. A control method according to claim 22, wherein saidfirst program is transmitted through predetermined broadcast waves tosaid first device.
 30. A control method according to claim 22, whereinsaid first program is transmitted through a wired broadcast to saidfirst device.
 31. The control method according to claim 10, wherein thesecond program is operable to select a most desirable device as saidsecond device from among a plurality of devices connected to said firstdevice without a selection input from a user when executed.
 32. Thecontrol equipment according to claim 11, wherein said second program isoperable to select a most desirable device from among a plurality ofdevices connected to the control equipment without a selection inputfrom a user.
 33. Control equipment according to claim 32, wherein saidprocessor selects the most desirable device from the plurality ofdevices when information of a controlled device is not stored in saidsecond storage unit.
 34. Control equipment according to claim 32,wherein said processor selects the most desirable device from otherdevices among the plurality of devices when a device stored in saidsecond storage unit is not connected as a controlled device.
 35. Controlequipment according to claim 32, wherein said second storage unit storesdevice type information for each of the plurality of devices and saidprocessor selects the most desirable device based on the device typeindicated by said first or second program.
 36. Control equipmentaccording to claim 32, wherein the information obtained for the mostdesirable device when said processor executes said second program is anidentification code corresponding to the most desirable device. 37.Control equipment according to claim 32, further comprising an interfaceunit for communicating with said processor, wherein said processorobtains the information for the most desirable device through saidinterface unit and the most desirable device is controlled by saidcontrol equipment through said interface unit.
 38. Control equipmentaccording to claim 32, further comprising: an input unit for inputtingthe information concerning the most desirable device; and a remotecontrol signal output unit for outputting a remote control signal of apredetermined format in response to a command from said processor,wherein said processor obtains the information for the most desirabledevice from said input unit and said processor generates the remotecontrol signal based on the obtained information.
 39. Control equipmentaccording to claim 32, further comprising a receiver operable to receivea broadcast signal of a predetermined format, wherein said first programis contained in the broadcast signal and stored in said first storageunit.
 40. Control equipment according to claim 39, wherein said receiverreceives a satellite broadcast signal relayed by a predeterminedsatellite.
 41. Control equipment according to claim 39, wherein saidreceiver receives a signal transmitted by a wired broadcast.
 42. Thecontrol equipment according to claim 21, wherein said second program isoperable to select the most desirable device from said plurality ofdevices without a selection input from a user.